The family of a Cornish soldier have released his last heart-breaking letter home, written just days before he was killed in the First World War.

A century ago last year, Helston lost six men in the space of just three weeks. These losses are just a small snapshot of the many killed across Cornwall as the war dragged on into its third year and must have left the community reeling.

Many were killed in Belgium in the Third Battle of Ypres, such as William Paul. You can listen above to his last letter home to his parents, written just nine days before he was killed in action.

The reading above was made by his great-nephew Wisdom James for the Helston World War One Heritage Project. There is also a transcript below.

In the moving letter he sends his love to his wife, children and wider family and talks of his hopes that the war will soon come to an end.

William Paul, a husband and father from Helston. Killed aged 29

Martine Knight, who has been coordinating research for the Helston project, said: "It can only be imagined how the residents of the town would have reacted to so much bad news in such a short period.

"Helston was obviously a much smaller place than it is today and the impact on the community must have been massive.

"The First world War was a huge event and affected people across the world for a long time. No one living is left now so it's up to us to remember these men in the context of local history. I think it's really important to keep these people in the minds of the community."

A view of the battlefield at the Third Battle of Ypres (Image: Imperial War Museum)

William Henry Paul was killed on July 31. The 29-year-old was originally from Plymouth, and, at the time he enlisted in Helston, he lived with his wife Harriet in Breage.

He was serving as a private with the 11th Battalion South Wales Borderers when he was killed in action in Flanders, in the Third Battle of Ypres. His name is recorded on the Langemarck-Poelkapelle war memorial in Belgium.

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Cornwall remembers the First World War

The others who died

Another Helston soldier who died was Leonard Barber, who joined the Royal Engineers and later transferred as a private to the 9th Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. He was killed in action at Ypres on August 4.

The third death was that of William Edwin Silvester, aged 26. He was originally from Newport in Wales although at the outbreak of war he lived with his wife Mary Ann in Silver Hill, Helston. He worked as a labourer and then joined the Royal Navy.

In 1917, Mr Silvester was serving as a stoker onboard HMS Bergamot. She was a warship disguised as a merchantman, designed to lure German submarines to the surface for an easy target.

The trap backfired for the crew of HMS Bergamot, which had only been launched in January of 1917. While cruising off Ireland, she was torpedoed in the side by a U-boat and sank in four minutes on August 13.

Just days later, Arthur Winn was killed on August 16. He worked as an outfitters assistant and his parents lived in Church Street, Helston. In 1917 his was a private in the 2 Battalion, Devonshire Regiment when he was killed in action at the battle of Langemarck in Belgium, aged 22.

The next death was John White Williams on August 19. His family lived in Holamn's Yard off Meneage Street in Helston, where he worked as an errand boy. By 1917, the 21-year-old was a lance corporal in the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry when he was killed at Ypres.

George Harold Smith was a lance corporal in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Originally form Lincoln, he was killed in action on August 22. His name is listed in the Tyne Cot Memorial, near Passchendaele in Belgium.

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Stories of Cornishmen in the First World War

The West Briton reports

The West Briton newspaper in 1917 carried long lists each week of soldiers from around Cornwall who were killed, wounded or are missing. Here is a snippet from the West Briton on September 13, mentioning some of the men above:

"During the past week the following casualties have been reported among men from the Helston district:- Killed – Arthur Winn, of Church-hill, Helston: died of wounds – Stanley Jacka, of Lanner Farm, Sithney: posted as missing – Harold Smith, son-in-law of Mr. Jesse Penney, of Meneage-street, Helston.

Among those notified as being wounded are Thomas M. Thomas, of Church-street, Helston, and Arthur Bassett, of Godolphin-road, Helston. Since the outbreak of war Helston Borough has lost 21 men.

Exhausted British soldiers snatch a few hours sleep during the Third Battle of Ypres (Image: Imperial War Museum)

"Pte. Thomas Wearne, of Helston, has received a letter from his officer stating that he has been awarded the Military Medal for assisting in saving a very serious position in France. The officer called for two men to help him in putting out a burning ammunition dump. Wearne was one of the first to go forward, and was wounded in both legs.

"He is reported to be progressing favourably after amputation of his left leg in Beechwood Hospital, Hereford. Prior to joining the Army in August 1916, Pte. Wearne was employed as a painter with Mr. I. Oliver, of Meneage-street, Helston. He was for many years a member of Helston Town Band."

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For them the bells toll

To mark the death of each man on the Helston war memorial, the bells of St Michael's Church in Helston have tolled 100 times at 11am on the anniversary of each death, or on a Saturday before if the date fell on a Sunday.

Remembering the First World War

Cornwall Live is running a series of features as we remember the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day on November 11.

We shall try to put the staggering loss to Cornwall - more than 6,300 men and women - into context and re-tell some of the stories of those who were there.

The letter

Here is Private William Paul's last letter home, sent on July 22, 1917, nine days before his death in Belgium.

"Dear mother and father,

"Just in answer to your kind letter. Glad to hear that you are all well as it leaves me well and glad to hear that you seen my wife and children and they're all well. Well dears, I am glad for Gordon, he is home still. I got a letter from Stanley this week and he is well.

"We are getting fine weather out here. I would write before, but we been on the march for a few days and it was hot, I can tell you, but never mind old dears I will do my best for all of you. I hope to see you one day.

"Don't worry, keep up a good heart. I can hear that the beer is dear at home. I wish I was home to have a drink of it and the war was over. I send my best love to one and all at home I know. Tell father to look the papers up in a few days for that longing day.

"Well dears, if you don't get a letter from me for a time don't worry, you must cheer up. I must come to a close. From your son WHP to my mother and father and brothers and sisters with love.

"Goodbye for the time and God bless you all. I send my best love to my dear wife and children. God bless them one and all from their father.

"From son."

A reading of this letter is also on the WW1 Talking Post on The Parade, near the corner of Meneage Street in Helston.